Radius dresser

ABSTRACT

A radius dresser for generating a profile having arcuate portions generated about different centers and/or different radii of rotation. The dresser includes a first swingable member mounted on a frame for pivotal movement about a first axis and a second swingable member, having a tool thereon, mounted on the first member for pivotal movement about a second axis parallel to and laterally displaced from the first axis. Control means permit the first swingable member to be fixedly connected to the frame or to the second swingable member, the angular oscillation of the second member occurring about the first axis when the first member is nonrotatably connected relative to the second member and about the second axis when the first member is nonrotatably connected to the frame. The control means also include means for permitting the first swingable member to be nonrotatably secured to the frame in a plurality of positions for permitting relative lateral displacement between said axes.

United States Patent [72] Inventor RaymondW.Ni1es Chelsea, Mich.

[21] Appl. No. 876,317

[22] Filed Nov. 13, 1969 [45] Patented Nov. 30, 1971 [7 3 Assignee Industrial Tectonics, lnc.

Ann Arbor, Mich.

{54] RADIUS DRESSER 14 Claims, 11 Drawing Figs.

[52] US. Cl 125/11 AT [51] int. Cl B24b 53/06 [50] FieldofSearch 125/11 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,434,615 1/1948 Hopkins 125/11 2,401,562 6/1946 Gruenberg 125/11 2,380,693 7/1945 Hahir 125/11 2,372,732 4/1945 Norris 125/11 1,979,536 11/1934 Edgar 125/11 2,301,610 11/1942 Brady..... 125/11 2,312,347 3/1943 Madsen 125/11 Primary Examiner-Harold D. Whitehead Anorneywoodhams, Blanchard and Flynn ABSTRACT: A radius dresser for generating a profile having arcuate portions generated about different centers and/or different radii of rotation. The dresser includes a first swingable member mounted on a frame for pivotal movement about a first axis and a second swingable member, having a tool thereon, mounted on the first member for pivotal movement about a second axis parallel to and laterally displaced from the first axis. Control means permit the first swingable member to be fixedly connected to the frame or to the second swingable member, the angular oscillation of the second member occurring about the first axis when the first member is nonrotatably connected relative to the second member and about the second axis when the first member is nonrotatably connected to the frame. The control means also include means for permitting the first swingable member to be nonrotatably secured to the frame in a plurality of positions for permitting relative lateral displacement between said axes.

PATENTEuuuv 301911 3.623 .469

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5 w? W A 0 w% Z 7 RADIUS DRESSER FIELD OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a device for generating a continuous profile having arcuate portions generated about different centers and/or different radii of rotation and, in particular, relates to a radius dresser for forming the contour of grinding wheels used to produce ball-bearing ball-path grooves.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The ball-path grooves for ball-bearing races are often formed by means of grinding wheels having a contour on the periphery thereof which is the inverse of the contour of the desired ball-path groove. While most ball-path grooves for bearings have only a single radius; several specialpurpose bearings are known which utilize ball-path grooves comprised of two arcuate portions of equal curvature generated about laterally offset centers of rotation. A further known special purpose bearing utilizes a ball-path groove having a profile comprising two outer arcuate portions of equal curvature generated about laterally displaced centers of rotation and additionally having a center arcuate portion having a curvature different from the curvature of the two outer portions. Such a profile is illustrated in FIG. 1 and further discussed below.

While devices are known which are capable of forming grinding wheels having a profile thereon of the type illustrated in FIG. 1, nevertheless these known devices possess numerous disadvantages which make their use inefficient and undesirable. In particular, the prior known devices have used a diamond tool which had to be moved to a new location each time a different arcuate portion of the grinding wheel is to be dressed, thus requiring that the diamond tool be moved to three separate locations in order to permit formation of a profile of the type illustrated in FIG. 1. Also, the diamond tool must be adjusted radially to permit generation of profile portions having different radii, such as R1 and R2 as illustrated in FIG. I. These adjustments must be carried out on each grinding wheel being dressed, which adjustments necessarily result in the overall dressing operation being exceedingly slow and inefficient. Further, the necessary adjustments require a high degree of operator skill in order to result in a grinding wheel having a desired contour.

Further, the different radii each have their own tolerances and the different positions for the axis of rotation of the diamond tool also each have their own X and Y tolerances. These tolerances vary with each grinding wheel being dressed due to the fact that the adjustments and manipulations described above must be manually performed, thereby resulting in a lack of uniformity in the dressed grinding wheels.

Due to the above-mentioned lack of uniformity in the dressed grinding wheels, each grinding wheel must be checked by grinding a trial part in order to check the contour or periphery of the wheel. This checking of a trial part is unduly time consuming since, when the trial part involves certain types of parts, such as an outer bearing ring, the contour cannot be directly checked by optical means but rather a cast of the contour must be made, with the contour of the cast then being checked to determine the accuracy of the contour of the grinding wheel. Further, the trial part must generally be reground since it is generally not safe to grind to finish size without perfonning an initial checking operation.

Still further, the prior known devices wherein the diamond tool had to be moved to more than one location for dressing each grinding wheel often involved the use of slides, micrometers, screws, bearings, stops, dial indicators and similar elements. These devices thus have unavoidably required a relatively long support arrangement between the diamond tool and the fixed reference point on the machine base. Such a long support arrangement is both time and temperature sensitive and requires frequent checks if accuracy is to be maintained.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention:

I. To provide a device, particularly a radius dresser, which can be initially preset to repetitively generate a desired contour.

2. To provide a device, as aforesaid, which can repetitively and efficiently dress-grinding wheels to a desired contour with the contour of the wheels being of high consistency and uniformity.

3. To provide a device, as aforesaid, wherein the desired contour can be initially set by means of an initial adjustment made on the device, whereupon the device is capable of repetitively and precisely reproducing the desired contour without requiring any adjustments which require special operator skill or introduce undesirable machine tolerances.

4. To provide a device, as aforesaid, which requires only simple manipulations of controls, which manipulations require no special operator skill, and wherein no misadjustment of the device can be accidentally made.

5. To provide a device, as aforesaid, particularly suitable for generating a surface or profile having outer arcuate portions of equal curvature generated about laterally displaced centers of rotation and additionally capable of generating a center arcuate portion having a curvature different from the curvature of the two outer portions but with the center portion being continuous with the two outer portions.

6. To provide a device, as aforesaid, capable of generating a profile having portions of different curvature generated about different centers of rotation.

. To provide a device, as aforesaid, capable of additionally generating several arcuate portions of equal curvature with the arcuate portions being generated about laterally displaced centers of rotation.

8. To provide a device, as aforesaid, wherein the coordinates for the various positions of the axis of rotation can be accurately determined and initially preset, whereupon the predetermined positions for the axis of rotation remain preset during continued operation of the device.

9. To provide a device, as aforesaid, wherein the support path for the forming tool is relatively short, thus reducing the time and temperature sensitivity of the device.

I0 To provide a device, as aforesaid, which is relatively simple and economical in operation, and relatively free of maintenance.

Other objects and purposes of this invention will be apparent to persons acquainted with devices of this general type upon reading the following specification and inspecting the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a schematic illustration of a profile generated in accordance with the device according to the present inventron.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of a device according to the present invention as taken along the line IIII of FIG. 3.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged right end elevational view of the device illustrated in FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged sectional view taken along the line IV-IV of FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is a sectional elevational view taken along the line V-V of FIG. 2.

FIG. 6 is a right end elevational view similar to FIG. 3 but illustrating the outer swingable member nonrotatably interconnected relative to the frame.

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along the line VII-VII of FIG. 3.

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along the line VIII-VIII of FIG. 3 but showing the control plate in its uppermost position.

FIG. 9 is an enlarged sectional elevational view taken along the line IXIX of FIG. 2.

FIG. 10 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along the line X-X of Fig. 2.

FIG. 11 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along the line XI-XI of FIG. 2.

Certain terminology will be used in the following description for convenience in reference only and will not be limiting. The words upwardly, downwardly, rightwardly" and leftwardly will designate directions in the drawings to which reference is made. The word forwardly will refer to the direction of movement of the control plungers 63 and 86 for causing engagement with their respective members, which direction is leftwardly in FIG. 2. The word rearwardly will refer to the opposite direction of movement, namely rightwardly in FIG. 2. The words inwardly" and outwardly will refer to directions toward and away from, respectively, the geometric center of the device and designated parts thereof. Said terminology will include the words above specifically mentioned, derivatives thereof and words of similar import.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In general, the objects and purposes of the invention are met by providing a device, particularly a radius dresser for grinding wheels, having a first C-shaped swingable member pivotally mounted on a stationary frame for angular oscillation about a first rotational axis. Control means, including a manually rotatable crank, are connected to the first swingable member for permitting same to be angularly moved relative to the frame and selectively nonrotatably connected relative to the frame in a plurality of selected positions, A second C- shaped swingable member having a tool thereon is pivotally mounted on the first swingable member for rotational movement about an axis substantially parallel to and laterally offset from the first rotational axis. The control means further includes a manually operable member coacting with the frame for permitting said outer swingable member to be selectively nonrotatably interconnected relative to the second swingable member. Selectively energizable drive means, including an angularly oscillatable member, are connected to the second swingable member for causing angular oscillation thereof. The second swingable member angularly oscillates about the first rotational axis when the first swingable member is nonrotatably connected relative to the second swingable member, whereas the second swingable member angularly oscillates about the second rotational axis when the first swingable member is nonrotatably related to the frame.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION FIG. 1 schematically illustrates therein a surface or profile which has portions thereof generated about different centers and radii of rotation. Specifically, FIG. 1 illustrates a member or wheel W, such as a grinding wheel, having a surface suitable for forming the cross-sectional profile of a groove for a ballbearing race. As illustrated, the surface profile G includes two arcuate portions which extend through the angles a and 01 respectively, which portions are each generated on a radius R2 about a common center of curvature, as represented by the axis A2. The angles 01 and for a ball-bearing race, would be equal so as to produce symmetrical profiles.

The profile of the surface G additionally contains portions which are generated about a further radius R1, which radius is generated about an axis Al. When the axis Al is in position A (hereinafter referred to as radius R1 it results in the generation of an arcuate portion of the profile G which extends through an angle 01 Similarly, when the radius Al is shifted to position B (hereinafter referred to as radius R1 it results in the generation of a profile which extends through an angle 01,. The radii R1,, and R1,, are thus equal but are generated about the axis A1 when positioned at locations A and B, respectively, which locations are positioned on laterally opposite sides of the axis A2. Further, when utilized on a ball-bearing race, the surface profiles generated by the radii R1 4 and Rl preferably extend through substantially equal angles so that the angles a, and a, are equal. The resulting profile G thus includes two spaced arcuate sectors which extend through the angles a, and

01 which sectors are generated about the radius R1 when positioned at locations A and B, respectively. The surface profile G further includes an intermediate arcuate sector which is located between and continuous with the two endmost arcuate sectors and extends through an angle equal to a, plus 01 being generated by the radius R2 about a common axis A2, the radius R2 being different from the radius R1.

The present invention, as illustrated in FIGS. 2-11, relates to a device which is capable of generating or forming a surface or profile as above described which includes two continuous, connected, arcuate surface segments which are generated about different radii.

FIG. 2 illustrates therein a housing 11 having opposed end plates 12 and 13 fixedly connected thereto. An outer C- shaped swingable member 16 is movably positioned within the housing 11 between the end plates 12 and 13, the end plate 13 being fixedly connected to a frame plate 14 which comprises a portion of the housing 11. The free arm portions of the outer C-member 16 are provided with bearing seats 17 and 18 therein, the seat 17 being positioned directly opposite a further bearing seat 19 stationarily secured within the end plate 12. The seats 17 and 19 each have conical recesses formed therein so as to receive a bearing means therebetween, such as the ball 21. Similarly, the seat 18 is positioned directly opposite a shaft 22 which is mounted on the frame plate 14, the shaft 22 and seat 18 also having conical recesses therein so as to receive bearing means therebetween, such as the ball 23. The balls 21 and 23 define a rotational axis A2 about which the outer C-shaped member 16 is rotatable relative to the housing 11.

A further C-shaped member 26 (hereinafter referred to as the inner C-member) is positioned directly within the outer C- member 16. The free arms of the inner C-member 26 are also provided with bearing seats 27 and 28 positioned substantially directly opposite the bearing seats 17 and 18, respectively. The pairs of seats 17-27 and 1828 have opposed conical recesses therein in which is positioned suitable bearing means, such as the balls 31 and 32, respectively. The inner C-member 26 is thus rotatably mounted on the outer C-member 16 by means of the balls 31 and 32, which balls define a rotational axis A1 which is substantially parallel to but laterally offset from the rotational axis A2 of the outer C-member 16. The inner C-member 26 also has a tool 33 mounted thereon, such as a cutting tool or a diamond point, which tool generates a curved profile, such as the profile G illustrated in FIG. 1, when the inner and outer C-members 16 and 26, respectively, are angularly moved relative to the housing and relative to one another. The initial radial position of the point of the tool 33 is determined by means of a pair of cylindrical members 34, which members are secured to the C-member 26 and positioned on opposite sides of the tool 33. The members 34 are each provided with a ground top face 35 thereon, which faces 35 are a known and recorded distance from the axis Al. Accordingly, in order to set a desired radius R1 for the tool 33, a special bridging micrometer is used to measure from the tip of the tool 33 to the ground faces 35.

The inner C-member 26 is angularly oscillatable about either the axis A1 or A2, being angularly oscillatable about the axis Al when the outer C-member 16 is fixed relative to the frame and being angularly oscillatable about the axis A2 when the outer C-member 16 is fixed relative to the inner C- member 26. The inner C-member 26 is angularly oscillated by means of the drive mechanism illustrated in FlG. 9. The end' plate 13 is provided with an elongated slot 36 therein and in which is slideably received a reciprocating rack 37. Rack 37 is fixedly secured to a reciprocating driving rod 38, which rod is connected to a suitable motor means (not shown), such as a conventional fluid pressure cylinder. Rack 37 is in meshing engagement with a first gear 39 which is rotatably supported upon a first stub shaft 41. Gear 39 in turn drives a second gear 42 which is supported upon a further stub shaft 43, gear 42 in turn being in driving meshing engagement with a third gear 46 which is rotatably supported on the shaft 22.

Gear 46 is nonrotatably connected, as by means of screws 47 (FIG. 2), to a sector-shaped plate 48 which is also rotatably supported upon the shaft 22. The plate 48 is provided with a radial slot 49 (FIG. 9) therein in which is positioned the extending lug or arm 51 fixedly, here integrally, secured to the inner C-member 26. Angular oscillation of the sector plate 48 thus results in a corresponding angular oscillation of the inner C-member 26. Since under certain operating conditions the C- member 26 oscillates about the axis Al which is offset from the axis A2, a small clearance is provided between the lug 51 and the sidewalls of the shot 49 to compensate for the transfer of angular movement about offset parallel axes.

Considering now the manner by which the position of the outer C-member 16 is controlled, same is provided with a gear sector 52 (FIGS. 2, 5 and 7) fixedly secured to one arm thereof, as by screws 53. The gear sector 52 is in continuous meshing engagement with a drive pinion 56 which is nonrotatably secured to the reduced end portion of a control shaft 57. The control shaft 57 is rotatably supported, by means of a bushing 58, within a flanged sleeve 59 which latter extends through and is nonrotatably secured relative to the end plate 12.

The control shaft 57 has a rotatable crank 61 nonrotatably keyed to the outer end thereof. Crank 61 is provided adjacent its free end with a cup-shaped retaining member 62 through which slideably extends a reciprocating plunger 63. Plunger 63 is provided with a piston portion 66 (FIG. 7) slideably received within the retaining member 62, a compression spring 67 being confined between one end wall of the retaining member 62 and the adjacent end of the piston portion 66 for normally urging the plunger 63 in a direction toward the end plate 12 (leftwardly in FIG. 1). If desired, the piston portion 66 can be provided with a radial pin 68 thereon, which pin extends through an L-shaped slot 69 formed within the retaining member 62. Rotational movement of the plunger 63 so as to position the pin 68 within the rearward circumferentially extending leg of L-shaped slot 69 thus locks the plunger in a retracted position against the urging of the spring 67 as illustrated in FIG. 7.

When it is desired to fixedly connect the C-member 16 relative to the housing 11, the plunger 63 is angularly rotated to release the pin 68 from the L-shaped slot 69. Spring 67 will then urge the plunger 63 forwardly (leftwardly in FIG. 2) so that the free end of the plunger 63 will enter into one of the openings 71 or 72 (FIG. 3) formed within the control plate 73 when the crank 61 is rotated so as to position the plunger 63 in alignment with one of the openings 71 or 72, as illustrated by dotted lines in FIG. 3.

The control plate 73 (FIGS. 3 and 4) is nonrotatably connected to the flanged sleeve 59 by means of pins 79 and 81, which pins are fixedly secured to the flanged sleeve and extend through the upper and lower portions 76 and 77, respectively, of an elongated slot formed within the control plate 73. The upper and lower slot portions 76 and 77 are continuous with a central elongated opening 78 through which extends the control shaft 57 and its surrounding bushing 58. The control plate 73 is normally urged, due to its own weight, into its lowermost position as limited by the engagement of the uppermost pin 79 with the upper end of the upper end of the upper slot portion 76 substantially as illustrated in FIG. 4.

With the control plate 73 positioned in its lowermost position (as illustrated in FIG. 4), rotation of crank 61 into the position illustrated in FIG. 6 causes the plunger 63 to align with the opening 71 whereupon the spring 67 urges the plunger 63 into the opening. Crank 61 is then nonrotatably connected relative to the control plate 73, which in turn is nonrotatably connected through the sleeve 59 to the housing end plate 12. With the crank positioned as illustrated in FIG. 6, the outer C-member 17 is stationarily secured relative to the housing 11 and thus angular oscillation of inner C-member 26 causes same to angularly oscillate about the axis Al, the axis A1 being laterally offset relative to the axis A2 so as to substantially correspond to position B as illustrated in FIG. 1.

Altemately, crank 61 can be angularly rotated (counterclockwise in FIG. 6) so as to position plunger 63 in alignment with the other opening 72, whereupon spring 67 will urge plunger 63 into the opening 72 so as to nonrotatably connect the crank 61 relative to the control plate 73 and relative to the housing end plate 12. With plunger 63 locked in the opening 72, the inner C-member 26 will again be angularly rotatable about the axis A1, same now being laterally offset relative to axis A2 so as to substantially correspond with position A as illustrated in FIG. 1.

To permitthe outer C-member 16 to be nonrotatably connected relative to the inner C-member 26, the plunger 63 is manually pulled outwardly in opposition to the spring 67 so as to remove the plunger from either the opening 71 or 72. Crank 6] is then manually rotated to return same to an intermediate disengaged position as illustrated by solid lines in FIGS. 3 and 7. Plunger 63 can be maintained in the disengaged position by the cooperation between pin 68 and slot 69 or, alternately, the forward end of the plunger can be permitted to slideably bear against the forward face of the control plate 73. When the crank 61 is positioned substantially in its intermediate position, the control plate 73 is then manually slid upwardly to an uppermost position (as illustrated in FIG. 8), in which position the control plate 73 is fixedly interconnected to the housing end plate 12 by means of a lock device The lock device 82 includes a cup-shaped retaining member 83 fixedly secured to the control plate 73 and having a plunger 86 slideably extending therethrough. Plunger 86 includes a knob 87 secured at one end thereof, and the other end 88 being tapered. A piston portion 89 is fixedly secured to the plunger 86 and is slideably received within the cup-shaped retaining member 83. A compression spring 91 is confined between an end wall of the retaining member 83 and the piston portion 89 for normally urging the end portion 88 of the plunger into engagement with the front face 92 of the end wall 12. End wall 12 is further provided with an opening 93 therein, which opening is tapered at its forwardmost end and is adapted to receive the tapered end portion 88 of the plunger therein. The opening 93 is positioned above the plunger end portion 88 when the control plate 73 is in its lowermost position so that the plunger 86 is maintained in its retracted position (as illustrated in FIG 2) when the outer C-member 16 is stationarily connected relative to the housing 11. However, when the control plate 73 is moved to its uppermost position, the end portion 88 of the plunger aligns with the opening 93 whereupon the spring 91 urges the plunger forwardly (leftwardly in FIG. 8) so that the end portion 88 extends into the opening 93, whereupon control plate 73 is then fixedly connected relative to the housing end plate 12.

Movement of the control plate 73 to its uppermost position also results in energization of a piston mechanism 96 (FIGS. 2 and 11) which causes the outer C-member 16 to be fixedly connected to the sector-shaped plate 48, whereby inner and outer C-members l6 and 26 substantially rotate as a unit. The piston mechanism 96 includes a piston member 97 slideably received within a bore 98 formed within the outer C-member 16. The piston 98 includes a rod portion 99 which slideably extends outwardly through an end plate 101 which is secured to the C-member l6 and closes the outermost end of the opening 98, The extreme free end of the rod 99 is formed with a tapered portion 102 thereon, which tapered portion is adapted to slideably extend into a slot 103 formed adjacent the outer periphery of the sector-shaped plate 48. The slot 103 is preferably tapered (FIG. 11) to facilitate entry of the tapered end portion 102 therein and to additionally permit the tapered end portion 102 and tapered slot 103 to substantially function as a centering device to insure that the sector plate 48 is properly positioned relative to the C-member 16 when same are connected. The pressure mechanism 96 is additionally provided with a spring 106 which normally urges the piston 97 toward its retracted position whereby outer C-member 16 is not connected to the sector-shaped plate 48.

Piston 97 is moved forwardly by supplying pressurized fluid, such as air, to the innermost end of the opening 98, whereupon the piston 97 is moved outwardly against the urging of the spring 106. The pressurized fluid is supplied to the opening 98 through a conventional conduit 107, as illustrated by dotted lines in FIG. 2.

The flow of pressurized fluid through the conduit 107 is controlled by a conventional valve means 108 (FIGS. 2 and 8). Valve means 108 is normally maintained in a closed position, being moved to the open position to permit flow through the conduit 107 whenever the control plate 73 is moved to its uppermost position.

The valve means 108 includes an actuating plunger 109 which is normally urged so as to be maintained in bearing engagement with the inner surface of the control plate 73. The control plate 73 includes a pair of parallel contact surfaces 111 and 112 (HO. 8) connected by a ramp cam 113. The plunger 109, which is provided with the cam roller 116 on the free end thereof, is normally maintained in contact with the upper contact surface 1 ll whenever the control plate 73 is in its lowermost position, whereupon the valve means 108 is maintained in the closed position. However, movement of the control plate 73 to its uppermost position causes the cam ramp 113 to contact the cam roller 116 and cam the plunger 109 inwardly so that the cam roller comes into bearing engagement with the contact surface 112 as illustrated in FIG. 8. This inward camming of the plunger 109 causes the valve 108 to open, whereupon fluid is supplied through the conduit 107 to the piston mechanism 96 so as to extend same and nonrotatably connect the outer C-member 16 to the sectorshaped plate 48.

OPERATION The operation of the device embodying the invention will be described in detail hereinbelow for a better understanding thereof.

To generate the central arcuate portion of contour G (F IG. 1), which central portion extends through an angle (a +a and is generated about radius R2, the crank 61 is first rotatably positioned in its intermediate position as illustrated by solid lines in FIG. 3, in which intermediate position the outer C-member 16 is positioned such that the piston rod 99 is substantially aligned with the slot 103 formed in the sectorshaped plate 48.

Control plate 73 is then manually moved upwardly to its uppermost position, which upward movement causes the plunger 86 to also move upwardly until same is aligned with the opening 93, whereupon spring 91 causes the end portion 88 of the plunger to extend into the opening 93 so as to fixedly secure the control plate 73 in its uppermost position. The upward movement of the control plate 73 also causes the cam ramp 113 to contact the cam roller 116, whereupon the actuating plunger 109 is cammed inwardly so as to open the valve means 108, whereupon pressurized fluid is supplied through the conduit 107 to the piston mechanism 96. The pressurized fluid supplied to the inner end of the opening 98 causes the piston 97 to extend outwardly whereupon the tapered end portion 102 extends into the tapered slot 103 so as to fixedly and nonrotatably connect the outer C-member 16 to the sectorshaped plate 48.

The driving rod 36 and rack 37 are then reciprocated so as to cause angular oscillation of the gear 39 which, by means of the intermediate gear 42, causes angular oscillation of the third gear 46. Gear 46 is nonrotatably connected to the sectorshaped plate 48 and thus causes a corresponding angular oscil' lation thereof. Sector-shaped plate 48 and outer C-member 16 are fixedly connected by the piston rod 97 and thus simultaneously oscillate as a unit about the axis A2. The angular oscillation of the sector 48 also causes a corresponding angular oscillation of the inner C-member due to the arm or lug being positioned within the radial slot 49. Since the bearing seats 17 and 18 are secured to the outer Cmember 26 and thus rotate with the sector plate 48, the axis of rotation A1 of the inner C- member 26 rotates about the axis A2 and thus the inner member 26 effectively rotates about the axis A2 as defined by the balls 21 and 23 when the outer C-member 16 is nonrotatably connected to the driven sector-shaped plate 48.

After the center sections of the profile G have been formed by the angular oscillation about the axis A2, the knob 87 of plunger 86 will be gripped and the plunger 86 will be manually moved outwardly to its retracted position so that the end portion 88 will be removed from the opening 93. This outward movement of the plunger 86 then permits the control plate 73 to drop to its lowermost position, either due to the urging of its own weight or due to the urging of a suitable spring means (not shown). When in its lowermost position, the hole 93 will no longer be aligned with the end portion 88 of the plunger and thus the end portion 88 can be permitted to bear against the front face 92 of the end wall 12.

The movement of control plate 73 to its lowermost position also causes the cam roller 116 to move from the contact surface 112 down the cam ramp 113 into engagement with the other contact surface 111, whereupon the actuating plunger 109 again returns to its extended position so as to reclose the valve 108. The reclosing of valve 108 permits the fluid in conduit 107 to be vented to a suitable low-pressure zone, such as the atmosphere. Relieving the pressurized fluid from the piston mechanism 96 thus permits the spring 106 to retract the piston 97 to its original position whereupon the tapered end portion 102 is withdrawn from the tapered slot 103. Plate 48 is then freely oscillatable independently of the outer C-member 16.

When it is desired to generate one of the outer arcuate portions of the contour G, such as the outer portion which extends through the angle 01,, and is generated about radius R1 crank 61 is manually rotated so as to position the plunger 63 in alignment with the opening 71 as illustrated in FIGv 6. Plunger 63 is then released whereby spring 67 urges the end of the plunger into the opening 71 so as to lock same in position. Rotation of the crank 61 to the angular position whereby same is aligned with the opening 71 also causes a corresponding rotation of shaft 57 and pinion 56. Rotation of pinion 56, due to its meshing engagement with gear sector 53, causes a corresponding angular movement of the outer C-member 16 whereby same is angularly displaced relative to the inner C- member 26 and relative to the housing 11. This angular displacement of C-member 16 also causes a corresponding angular displacement of bearing seats 17 and 18, which thus causes the rotational axis A] as defined by the balls 31 and 32 to be laterally offset (to position B of FIG. 1) relative to the rotational axis A2 as defined by the balls 21 and 23.

After the crank has been locked into position by means of plunger 61 extending into the opening 71, the driving rod 36 and rack 37 are then reciprocated so as to cause an angular oscillation of the gear 46 and associated sector-shaped plate 48. Angular oscillation of the sector-shaped plate 48 causes a corresponding angular oscillation of the inner C-member 26 due to the driving engagement between the arm 51 and slot 49. However, since the outer C-member 16 is fixedly connected relative to the housing 11, the inner C-member 26 now effectively oscillates about the axis A1, which axis is laterally offset relative to the axis A2 and results in the tool 33 being angularly moved about the radius R1.

After the outer portions of profile G have been finished about the radius R1 plunger 63 is then manually released by withdrawing same from the opening 71, whereupon the crank 61 is manually rotated (counterclockwise in FIG. 6) so as to cause the plunger 63 to align with the opening 72, which rotational movement causes a corresponding angular displacement of the outer C-member 16 so that same is now angularly displaced in the opposite direction whereupon the axis A1 is now laterally offset in the opposite direction so as to be substantially in position A as illustrated in FIG. 1. The plunger 63 is again spring urged inwardly so that the end thereof extends into the opening 72 whereupon the outer C-member 16 is fixcdly secured relatively to the housing 11. The driving rod 36 and rack 37 are again reciprocated so as to cause angular oscillation of the inner C-member 26 whereupon the inner C- member 26 angularly oscillates about the axis A which rotational axis is laterally ofiset so as to be in position A whereby the other outer portion of the surface profile G is generated about the radius R1 While the above operation has described finishing the central portion of the profile before the outer portions, this sequence of operation has been chosen merely for convenience since it will be obvious that the exact sequence of operation, if critical, will depend upon the selected profile and the type of member or grinding wheel upon which the profile is to be formed. Further, the above-described device is readily adaptable to generate both internal (concave) and external (convex) profiles in dependence upon the position of the tool 33 relative to the rotational axes Al and A2.

The apparatus illustrating the preferred embodiment of the invention as disclosed in FIG. 2 is specifically designed for generating an external or convex profile. The workpiece upon which the profile is to be formed is positioned between the free arms of the inner C-member 26. Since the tool 33 is directed radially inwardly toward the axis Al, it generates an external profile on the grinding wheel as the inner C-member 26 is angularly oscillated.

Although a particular preferred embodiment of the invention has been disclosed above for illustrative purposes, it will be understood that obvious or equivalent variations or modifications thereof are fully contemplated.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. A dressing device for generating a profile having arcuate portions generated about different centers of rotation, comprising:

frame means;

a first swingable member pivotally mounted on said frame means for angular oscillation about a first axis;

a second swingable member pivotally mounted on said first swingable member for angular oscillation about a second axis parallel to and laterally offset from said first axis, said second swingable member being adapted to have a tool mounted thereon;

control means coacting with said first swingable member for fixedly connecting said first swingable member to one of said frame means and said second swingable member for permitting said second swingable member to be angularly oscillated about either of said axes;

drive means interconnected to said second ,swingable member for causing angular oscillation thereof about a selected one of said axes;

said control means including first means coacting between said first swingable member and said frame means for permitting said first swingable member to be fixedly connected relative to said frame means whereby energization of said drive means causes said second swingable member to angularly oscillate about said second axis;

said first means including a crank rotatably supported on said frame means and drivingly connected to said first swingable member and lock means coacting between said crank and said frame means for fixedly securing said crank and said first swingable member in a selected position, said lock means including a reciprocating lock plunger slidably mounted on one of said crank and frame means and an opening formed in the other of said crank and frame means and adapted to receive said plunger therein for fixedly connecting said crank and said first swingable member to said frame means when said crank is in a selective position;

said first means further including a control plate nonrotatably mounted on said frame means and means for mounting said control plate for shiftable linear movement relative to said frame means between first and second positions, said control plate having said opening formed therein and said lock plunger being slidably mounted on said crank whereby said plunger is alignable with said opening when said control plate is in one ofsaid positions; and

said control means also including second means coacting between said first and second swingable members for permitting same to be relatively fixedly connected whereby energization of said drive means causes said second swingable member to angularly oscillate about said first axis.

2. A dressing device for generating a profile having arcuate portions generated about different centers of rotation, comprising:

frame means;

a first swingable member pivotally mounted on said frame means for angular oscillation about a first axis;

a second swingable member pivotally mounted on said first swingable member for angular oscillation about a second axis parallel to and laterally offset from said first axis, said second swingable member being adapted to have a tool mounted thereon;

control means coacting with said first swingable member for fixedly connecting said first swingable member to one of said frame means and said second swingable member for permitting said second swingable member to be selectively angularly oscillated about at least said first and second axes;

drive means independent of said control means and interconnected to said second swingable member for causing angular oscillation thereof about a selected one of said axes; and

said control means including first releasable lock means coacting between said first swingable member and said frame means for permitting said first swingable member to be fixedly connected relative to said frame means whereby energization of said drive means causes said second swingable member to angularly oscillate about said second axis;

said control means also including second releasable lock means coacting between said first and second swingable member for permitting same to be relatively fixedly connected whereby energization of said drive means causes said second swingable member to angularly oscillate about said first axis.

3. A device according to claim 1, wherein said second means includes a fluid actuated locking device having a linearly movable locking member, and fluid valve means coacting with and actuated by said control plate when same is moved to said other position for permitting pressurized fluid to be supplied to said locking device so as to linearly move said locking member and cause said first swingable member to be fixedly interconnected relative to said second swingable member.

4. A device according to claim 2, wherein said first swingable member includes a substantially C-shaped portion, and first mounting means coacting between said frame means and said first swingable member adjacent the opposite free ends of C-shaped portion for pivotally supporting said first swingable member for angular movement about said first axis; and

said second swingable member comprising a substantially C-shaped member positioned within the C-shaped portion of said first swingable member, and second mounting means coacting between the opposite free ends of said second swingable member and the adjacent opposite free ends of said C-shaped portion for permitting angular movement of said second swingable member relative to said first swingable member about said second axis.

5. A device according to claim 4, wherein said control means includes a manually movable control member movably mounted on said frame means for movement between first and second positions, said control member when in said first position causing said first lock means to fixedly interconnected said first swingable member relative to said frame means whereby angular oscillation occurs about said second axis, said second lock means being released when said control member is in said first position; and

said control member being manually movable to a second position wherein said second lock means fixedly interconnects said first and second swingable members for causing rotation thereof as a unit about said first axis, said first lock means being released when said control member is in said second position.

6. A device according to claim 5, wherein said first lock means includes a slidable plunger disposed for movement in a direction substantially parallel to said first axis, said second lock means also including a second slidable plunger disposed for movement in a second direction substantially parallel to said second axis, said first and second plungers being disposed adjacent the opposite axial ends of said C-shapedl portion of said first swingable member.

7. A device according to claim 6, wherein said movable plunger of said first lock means is movably mounted on said control member and is disposed adjacent one end of said C- shaped portion, and said drive means being drivingly connected to said second swingable member adjacent the other end of said C-shaped portion.

8. A device according to claim 5, wherein said control means includes connecting means coacting between said control member and said second lock means for automatically causing actuation of said second lock means into said locking position when said control member is moved into said second position.

9. A device according to claim 2, wherein said control means includes a crank rotatably supported on said frame means and having a drive gear nonrotatably connected thereto, and a gear sector fixedly secured to said first swingable member and disposed in meshing engagement with said drive gear; and

said first lock means coacting between said crank and said frame means for fixedly securing said crank and said first swingable member relative to said frame means in a selected position to permit rotation of said second swingable member about said second axis, said first lock means including a reciprocating lock plunger slidably mounted on said crank and an opening formed in said frame means and adapted to receive said plunger therein for fixedly connecting said crank and said first swingable member when said crank is in said selected position.

10. A device for generating a profile having arcuate portions generated about different centers of rotation, compris mg:

frame means;

a first swingable member pivotally mounted on said frame means for oscillation about a first axis;

a second swingable member pivotally mounted on said first swingable member for angular oscillation about a second axis parallel to and laterally offset from said first axis, said second swingable member being adapted to have a tool mounted thereon;

displacement means drivingly connected to said first swingable member for causing angular displacement of said first swingable member relative to said frame means, said displacement means comprising a crank rotatably supported on said frame means and drivingly connected to said first swingable member whereby rotation of said crank causes a corresponding angular displacement of said first swingable member between first and second angular positions causing lateral displacement of said second axis between first and second lateral positions;

coupling means coacting with said frame means for permitting said first swingable member to be fixedly interconnected to said frame means when said first swingable member is in either of said first and second angular positions, said coupling means including a lock plunger slidably mounted on said crank;

lock means coacting between said first and second swingable members for selectively permitting said first and second swingable members to be nonrotatably interconnected, said lock means including a fluid actuated device having a movable locking member and including valve means connected to said fluid actuated device;

selector means movably mounted on said frame means and coacting with said lock means and said coupling means for selectively permitting actuation of one of said coupling means and said lock means while preventing actuation of the other of said coupling means and said lock means, said selector means including a selector member nonrotatably mounted on said frame means and linearly movable relative to said frame means between first and second positions, said selector member including cam means thereon for actuation of said valve means when said selector member is moved to one of said positions, said selector member also including therein a plurality of circumferentially spaced openings adapted to slidably receive therein said lock plunger when said selector member is in said other position for permitting said crank and said first swingable member to be nonrotatably interconnected relative to said frame means, movement of said selector member to said one position preventing said lock plunger from aligning with any of said openings; and

drive means interconnected to said second swingable member for causing angular oscillation thereof about a selected one of said axes.

1]. A dressing device for generating a profile having arcuate portions generated about different centers of rotation, comprising:

frame means;

a first swingable member pivotally mounted on said frame means for angular oscillation about a first axis;

a second swingable member pivotally mounted on said first swingable member for angular oscillation about a second axis parallel to and laterally offset from said first axis, said second swingable member being adapted to have tool mounted thereon;

first releasable lock means coacting between said first swingable member and said frame means for fixedly interconnecting same to permit angular movement of said second swingable member about said second axis;

second releasable lock means coacting between said first and second swingable members for fixedly interconnecting same to permit angular movement of said second swingable member about said first axis;

selector means movably mounted on said frame means and coacting with said first and second lock means and movable between first and second selector positions for permitting actuation of one of said lock means and preventing actuation of the other lock means when in said first selector position, said selector means permitting actuation of said other lock means and preventing actuation of said one lock means when in said second selector position, said selector means including a selector member mounted on said frame means for movement solely between said first and second selector positions; and

drive means drivingly connected to said second swingable member for causing angular oscillation thereof about said first and second axes when said selector member is in said first and second positions, respectively, said drive means being independent of said selector member.

12. A device according to claim 11, wherein said selector member is mounted for linear movement between said first and second positions.

13. A device according to claim 11, wherein said first and second swingable members are each substantially C-shaped and are positioned one within the other.

14. A device according to claim ll, wherein said drive means includes motor means and gear means operatively interconnected between said motor means and said second swingable member. 

1. A dressing device for generating a profile having arcuate portions generated about different centers of rotation, comprising: frame means; a first swingable member pivotally mounted on said frame means for angular oscillation about a first axis; a second swingable member pivotally mounted on said first swingable member for angular oscillation about a second axis parallel to and laterally offset from said first axis, said second swingable member being adapted to have a tool mounted thereon; control means coacting with said first swingable member for fixedly connecting said first swingable member to one of said frame means and said second swingable member for permitting said second swingable member to be angularly oscillated about either of said axes; drive means interconnected to said second swingable member for causing angular oscillation thereof about a selected one of said axes; said control means including first means coacting between said first swingable member and said frame means for permitting said first swingable member to be fixedly connected relative to said frame means whereby energization of said drive means causes said second swingable member to angularly oscillate about said second axis; said first means including a crank rotatably supported on said frame means and drivingly connected to said first swingable member and lock means coacting between said crank and said frame means for fixedly securing said crank and said first swingable member in a selected position, said lock means including a reciprocating lock plunger slidably mounted on one of said crank and frame means and an opening formed in the other of said crank and frame means and adapted to receive said plunger therein for fixedly connecting said crank and said first swingable member to said frame means when said crank is in a selective position; said first means further including a control plate nonrotatably mounted on said frame means and means for mounting said control plate for shiftable linear movement relative to said frame means between first and second positions, said control plate having said opening formed therein and said lock plunger being slidably mounted on said crank whereby said plunger is alignable with said opening when said control plate is in one of said positions; and said control means also including second means coacting between said first and second swingable members for permitting same to be relatively fixedly connected whereby energization of said drive means causes said second swingable member to angularly oscillate about said first axis.
 2. A dressing device for generating a profile having arcuate portions generated about different centers of rotation, comprising: frame means; a first swingable member pivotally mounted on said frame means for angular oscillation about a first axis; a second swingable member pivotally mounted on said first swingable member for angular oscillation about a second axis parallel to and laterally offset from said first axis, said second swingable member beIng adapted to have a tool mounted thereon; control means coacting with said first swingable member for fixedly connecting said first swingable member to one of said frame means and said second swingable member for permitting said second swingable member to be selectively angularly oscillated about at least said first and second axes; drive means independent of said control means and interconnected to said second swingable member for causing angular oscillation thereof about a selected one of said axes; and said control means including first releasable lock means coacting between said first swingable member and said frame means for permitting said first swingable member to be fixedly connected relative to said frame means whereby energization of said drive means causes said second swingable member to angularly oscillate about said second axis; said control means also including second releasable lock means coacting between said first and second swingable member for permitting same to be relatively fixedly connected whereby energization of said drive means causes said second swingable member to angularly oscillate about said first axis.
 3. A device according to claim 1, wherein said second means includes a fluid actuated locking device having a linearly movable locking member, and fluid valve means coacting with and actuated by said control plate when same is moved to said other position for permitting pressurized fluid to be supplied to said locking device so as to linearly move said locking member and cause said first swingable member to be fixedly interconnected relative to said second swingable member.
 4. A device according to claim 2, wherein said first swingable member includes a substantially C-shaped portion, and first mounting means coacting between said frame means and said first swingable member adjacent the opposite free ends of said C-shaped portion for pivotally supporting said first swingable member for angular movement about said first axis; and said second swingable member comprising a substantially C-shaped member positioned within the C-shaped portion of said first swingable member, and second mounting means coacting between the opposite free ends of said second swingable member and the adjacent opposite free ends of said C-shaped portion for permitting angular movement of said second swingable member relative to said first swingable member about said second axis.
 5. A device according to claim 4, wherein said control means includes a manually movable control member movably mounted on said frame means for movement between first and second positions, said control member when in said first position causing said first lock means to fixedly interconnected said first swingable member relative to said frame means whereby angular oscillation occurs about said second axis, said second lock means being released when said control member is in said first position; and said control member being manually movable to a second position wherein said second lock means fixedly interconnects said first and second swingable members for causing rotation thereof as a unit about said first axis, said first lock means being released when said control member is in said second position.
 6. A device according to claim 5, wherein said first lock means includes a slidable plunger disposed for movement in a direction substantially parallel to said first axis, said second lock means also including a second slidable plunger disposed for movement in a second direction substantially parallel to said second axis, said first and second plungers being disposed adjacent the opposite axial ends of said C-shaped portion of said first swingable member.
 7. A device according to claim 6, wherein said movable plunger of said first lock means is movably mounted on said control member and is disposed adjacent one end of said C-shaped portion, and said drive means being drivingly connected to said second swingable member adjacent the other end of said C-shaped portion.
 8. A device according to claim 5, wherein said control means includes connecting means coacting between said control member and said second lock means for automatically causing actuation of said second lock means into said locking position when said control member is moved into said second position.
 9. A device according to claim 2, wherein said control means includes a crank rotatably supported on said frame means and having a drive gear nonrotatably connected thereto, and a gear sector fixedly secured to said first swingable member and disposed in meshing engagement with said drive gear; and said first lock means coacting between said crank and said frame means for fixedly securing said crank and said first swingable member relative to said frame means in a selected position to permit rotation of said second swingable member about said second axis, said first lock means including a reciprocating lock plunger slidably mounted on said crank and an opening formed in said frame means and adapted to receive said plunger therein for fixedly connecting said crank and said first swingable member when said crank is in said selected position.
 10. A device for generating a profile having arcuate portions generated about different centers of rotation, comprising: frame means; a first swingable member pivotally mounted on said frame means for oscillation about a first axis; a second swingable member pivotally mounted on said first swingable member for angular oscillation about a second axis parallel to and laterally offset from said first axis, said second swingable member being adapted to have a tool mounted thereon; displacement means drivingly connected to said first swingable member for causing angular displacement of said first swingable member relative to said frame means, said displacement means comprising a crank rotatably supported on said frame means and drivingly connected to said first swingable member whereby rotation of said crank causes a corresponding angular displacement of said first swingable member between first and second angular positions causing lateral displacement of said second axis between first and second lateral positions; coupling means coacting with said frame means for permitting said first swingable member to be fixedly interconnected to said frame means when said first swingable member is in either of said first and second angular positions, said coupling means including a lock plunger slidably mounted on said crank; lock means coacting between said first and second swingable members for selectively permitting said first and second swingable members to be nonrotatably interconnected, said lock means including a fluid actuated device having a movable locking member and including valve means connected to said fluid actuated device; selector means movably mounted on said frame means and coacting with said lock means and said coupling means for selectively permitting actuation of one of said coupling means and said lock means while preventing actuation of the other of said coupling means and said lock means, said selector means including a selector member nonrotatably mounted on said frame means and linearly movable relative to said frame means between first and second positions, said selector member including cam means thereon for actuation of said valve means when said selector member is moved to one of said positions, said selector member also including therein a plurality of circumferentially spaced openings adapted to slidably receive therein said lock plunger when said selector member is in said other position for permitting said crank and said first swingable member to be nonrotatably interconnected relative to said frame means, movement of said selector member to said one position preventing said lock plunger from aligning with any of said openings; and drive means interconnected to said second swingable member for causing angular oscillation thereof about a selected one of saiD axes.
 11. A dressing device for generating a profile having arcuate portions generated about different centers of rotation, comprising: frame means; a first swingable member pivotally mounted on said frame means for angular oscillation about a first axis; a second swingable member pivotally mounted on said first swingable member for angular oscillation about a second axis parallel to and laterally offset from said first axis, said second swingable member being adapted to have tool mounted thereon; first releasable lock means coacting between said first swingable member and said frame means for fixedly interconnecting same to permit angular movement of said second swingable member about said second axis; second releasable lock means coacting between said first and second swingable members for fixedly interconnecting same to permit angular movement of said second swingable member about said first axis; selector means movably mounted on said frame means and coacting with said first and second lock means and movable between first and second selector positions for permitting actuation of one of said lock means and preventing actuation of the other lock means when in said first selector position, said selector means permitting actuation of said other lock means and preventing actuation of said one lock means when in said second selector position, said selector means including a selector member mounted on said frame means for movement solely between said first and second selector positions; and drive means drivingly connected to said second swingable member for causing angular oscillation thereof about said first and second axes when said selector member is in said first and second positions, respectively, said drive means being independent of said selector member.
 12. A device according to claim 11, wherein said selector member is mounted for linear movement between said first and second positions.
 13. A device according to claim 11, wherein said first and second swingable members are each substantially C-shaped and are positioned one within the other.
 14. A device according to claim 11, wherein said drive means includes motor means and gear means operatively interconnected between said motor means and said second swingable member. 